Preview: Ajax vs. AC Milan

AC Milan will attempt to move onto six points in Champions League Group H when they travel to Amsterdam to face Dutch outfit Ajax on Tuesday evening.

The home side are already playing catch-up in the group after losing 4-0 to Barcelona in their opening match last month, while Milan picked up all three points with a 2-0 success over Celtic at the San Siro.

Ajax will have fond memories of facing Milan having taken four points off the Italian outfit in the 2010-11 group stages, with the match in this stadium ending in a 1-1 draw. The two sides first locked horns in the 1968-69 European Champion Clubs' Cup final, a fixture which was won 4-1 by Milan.

That said, Ajax have not beaten Italian opposition in Amsterdam since December 2002 when they picked up a 2-1 success over Roma. It has been nine matches since they last tasted success against Serie A opponents in this stadium.

Milan have struggled in the early stages of their Serie A campaign this season with a total of just eight points from six matches leaving them in ninth position, although they did beat Sampdoria 1-0 at the weekend.

Ajax, meanwhile, enter the match on the back of a 6-0 win over Go Ahead Eagles in the league at the weekend, but they have also stuttered in their domestic league with 14 points from eight matches leaving them in fourth position in the table.

The home side have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the match, with Bojan Krkic once more expected to operate in an advanced role alongside Kolbeinn Sigthorsson. Meanwhile, Thulani Sereno could come into the Dutch side's midfield.

Highly-rated Viktor Fischer, who started on the bench against Barcelona, is also expected to be handed a start in a wide area, with Lerin Duarte dropping to the bench.

Mattia De Sciglio, Riccardo Montolivo, Stephan El Shaarawy and Kaka are among a long list of personnel currently absent for Milan, but Mario Balotelli will come into the team despite his current domestic suspension.

M'Baye Niang could also come into the XI for the Italian outfit, while there are also expected to be starts for Ignazio Abate and Nigel de Jong.

Recent form

Ajax: WLLWW

AC Milan: DWLDW

Possible starting lineups:

Ajax: Vermeer; Van Rhijn, Moisander, Denswil, Blind; De Jong, Poulsen; Sereno, Bojan, Fischer; Sigthorsson

AC Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Mexes, Zapata, Constant; Birsa, Poli, De Jong; Niang, Matri, Balotelli

Sports Mole says: 2-2